
Homes of our Forefethers 



assaehusetts 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

®^np.f^.^5@npijrin^t Tin...:... 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



HOMES 



OUR FOREFATHERS 



IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



Fkom Ohigina^Drawings, 
By EDWIN WHITEFIELD. 



NEW EDITION. 



C o r Y It I c II T itY E 1) \v I N Whit k k i k i, i). 1892 

A I. I, KlOIITS II K .S K I! V F, n . 



DKDHAM. MASS: 
K WIIITKFIELU, 

18'.t2. 



>/>^V 



Jc' 



TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED 



Early History of New England. 



The object of this book is to preserve and hand down to all 
future posterity representations of the Homes of their Forefathers. 
From a variety of causes they are rapidly disappearing ; and before 
long the places that now know them will know them no more. It 
has been a labor of love to the undersigned to collect these me- 
mentoes of the past ; having spent the greater portion of twelve 
years in visiting the various towns of the six New Elngland States 
and making sketches of nearly eight hundred buildings, which are 
more or less interesting. Of these he has published, in the five vol- 
umes thus far issued, about one-half that number, at a heavy ex- 
pense to himself, without the least assistance from any person except 
what he has derived from the sale of these books, which have so far 
not equalled the outlays of one kind and another by upwards of nine 
thousand dollars. Whether any more volumes can be issued will de- 
pend upon the interest taken in them by those who are desirous of 
having such a work handed xlown to future posterity. 

This statement is made not by way of complaint, but simply be- 
cause it is a fact ; and that the present and future generations may 
know under what circumstances this collection has been gathered 
together. He has labored under many disadvantages which cannot be 
here enumerated ; he has tried to do his work faithfully ; and no 
liberties have been taken with the old buildings here represented, or 
with their surroundings, merely for pictorial effect. It is true that 
a few houses have been slightly altered from what they are to what 
they were originally ; and sometimes an indifferent object, such as 
a barn, or it may be a tree, has been left out or pushed aside to 
show the building to better advantage ; thus, if not photographically 
correct, they are sufficiently so for all practical purposes. 

In conclusion, he returns his sincere thanks to the many ladies 
and gentlemen who have kindly aided him with information upon 
this subject. 

With these remarks he respectfully offers his book to all who are 
interested in the early history of those who laid the foundations of 
this Commonwealth. 

E. WHITEFIELD. 
Dkdham, Mass., December, 1892. 



LONGFELLOW HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE. 

I'liis lioiisc, ,siir[);is.siii<r in interest •■iliuost any other in 
M.'iss. forluivinLj lieen so lonii tiic home of tlie poet Longfoliow, 
stands on Brattle St. It was probably bnilt by .John Vassal, 
about I73'i. Durinsj the Revolutionary War, it was for some 
time the hea(!(piarters of (Jen'l Washington. 






tS^ iJC^ 








t. -^.h 



' The Lonafellovv House 






WHITTIERS BIRTHPLACE, HAVERHILL. 

This lioiise was built by Thos. Wliittier, an ancestor of 
the Poet, vvho came from England in 1(530, and settled first in 
Salisbury, retnoving thence to Newbury and afterwards to 
Haverhill, where he l)uilt a small house near the present one, 
which latter he erected in ll>55. It originally sloped to one 
story at the back, but was afterwards raised to its present 
proportions. It stands near the turnpike leading to Amesbury, 
and is about 3 miles from Haverhill. 

N. H. — The above information is direct from the Poet. 



s 






THE HOLMES HOUSE. 



This was built by Jaiol) Fox. about 17;^0, ami is famous 
for having been the birth- place of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. 
It was occupied by the Committee of Safet}' in 177."), and 
Washington also occupied it for three days. 

It was taken down a few years since. 



.1^'^. 






— -'Mi^i^. ye?-. 







THE CRADDOCK HOUSE, MEDFOKD. 

Tliis, the first l)rick house erected in New Eiighuid, was 
liiiilt ill 1634 tor Matiiew Oaddofk, a London merchant and the 
first Governor of the Mass. ('olony. Ho never came to this 
country, althoiijrh it was evidently his intention to have done 
so. Tills house is in the outskirts of" Medford on the road to 
Maiden, overlooking the Mystic valle} . The walls are lis 
inches in thickness. The oval openings in front were intended 
for port-holes, and the outside door was iron-clad. The 
present roof is not the original one. 



THE FAIRBANKS HOUSE, DEDHAM. 

This old and interesting house was built by John Fair- 
banks probably aliout 1(570, tiiit is, the main portion of it, (as 
the two vviii^s are of later date). It is generally claimed to 
h iv(^ l)^Mi l)iiilt ill liil^iJ; but of this there is no reliable proof. 
That a log house might have baeu erected here about that time 
is quite pro') ible ; for all th? first h )uses ware of course log 
houses, and they soon disappeared. It is now in a very dilap- 
ii ited coiditi )u, aiii unless some repairs are speedily made, 
it must soon yield to the ravages of time. 

The representation of it in this book is extremely accurate , 
and far superior to any [ihotograph that can be taken. 




4 '-ssu sf-n^ttk " "rw»/ -.if f"'^ «!!^Atf mi 



ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, MARBLEHKAD. 

This was built in 1714, and is believed to be the oldest Ei)isc()))al 
church in Massachusetts, if not in New England. The followin<: lines 
from Whittier are very appropriate : — 

"Church to reverend memories dear. Loft, who tiny organ kept 
Quaint in desk and chandelier ; Keys that Snetzler's hand had swept. 

Bell, whose century rusted tongue. Altar, o'er whose tablet old. 
Burials tolled and bridals rung. Sinai's law its thunders rolled.' 




it '^M.lduU-U duui-efv. 3ia.arbLe.Ke*«t. Qpyrijli^t:/ i.'^'-f-''-i /»»! 



THE WAITT HOUSE, MALDEN. 

This was built t)y John Waitt, proi)ably about 1730. It 
is noted (chiefly for having been the building in which the tirst 
Methodist meetinj;s were held in Maiden. 



i^SMtS'teSS-tr.S-.;'^ 



,-"-&'c'ft""7>lST-J 




THE WAYSIDE INN, 8UDBURY. 



"As ancient is this hostlery A kind of old Hobgoblin lluli. 

, . , , , Now somewhat fallen to deca\ ; 

As any in this land may be ; 

With weather stains upon the wall. 

Built in the old Colonial day, ^.nd stairways worn, and crazy doors. 

When men lived in a grander way ^nd creaking and uneven Hoois, 

And chimneys huge and tiled and 
With ampler hospitality. ,, „ 

LONUFELLOW. 




■K-i.,- ■.'.■■,:i';-:.JSIS<' 



.s=^.. 




^.'',. i.'S'^'- '■5'**-iVC^-::-f j 




tt:t;v-3r 




<i i>i' f»Y- ^^y- 



y^i^a 



THE WINTHROP HOUSE, IPSWICH. 



This was built b}'^ Joiin Winthrop, Jr. about 1634. Here 
some of his children were bora and his first wife died. 

When the Winthrops migrated to Conn, this property came 
into the possession of the Buniham fiimlly, and it remained 
with them for nearly 200 years. It occupies a fine position 
and is still in good condition. 



THE PILLSBURY HOUSE, NEWBURYPORT. 

This Wiis built by Josiiua Pillsbury, about 16.S.T, and has 
always been owned by his descendants. It stands on High 
Street, near the Belleville church. 



THE DODGE HOUSE, IPSWICH. 



This house has been sometimes called the "Rust House."' 
and also the "Garrison House." 

It is (ilaimed to have been built in 1G31 ; in which case it 
is the oldest house in Ipswich, and one of the very oldest in 
New England. 



THK LONGFELLOW MOUSE, BYFIELD. 

Wm. Longfellow, ancestor of the Poet, wlio came from 
Hampshire, England, built this house in ltiS6. It was an ordi- 
nary, comfortable farm-house, with nothing peculiar about its 
architecture. It was pulled down a few years since. 

Another house of similar style, standing not far from the 
old one, was built in 1740, and is still in good repair. 



ir ^ 





Aw. ^'•l!^^.^ay/}i,i'^>//(ThL 'eU I.B,y^(lCr,^ 'Hon.it, Jiyf,<^ldL.fh/,^,...^' i'y ■ 



THE SITTTON HOUSE, IPSWICH. 

This was built by Thos. Firman about 1642, and after- 
ward sold to Rev. John Norton. 

It has been a long time in the possession of the Sutton 
family. 






'■>^:^'<i:^ii^'\-''.'Mr: 




K:.. AnZTlTTW. 



■;y,j.''t >v /■..W',^'.-i: ■'.{. /X<fX 



THE IRON WORKS HOUSE, SAUGUS. 



This; house was built hy the Leonard Brothers, ahoiit 
1040, who here commenced the manufacture of iron, and the 
l)usiness was carried on here for more than 100 years. One 
of the brothers removed to the neighborhood of Taunton, and 
commenced the business there. The chimney of this house is 
probai)ly the largest in New England. 

This represents the house as it was l)efore the piazza was 
put on. 



1 


HV -^ftt. 




. ^^H 




fe/:^:^^?^ 















THE DUMMER ACA.DEMY, BYFIELD. 



This is believed to have been built by Gov. Dummer about 
1730. The front of the main building is clap-boarded ; the 
ends and wing are built of brick. 




i5u*nmer AfMxtwny, £vhet4. 



THE OTIS HOUSE, SCITUATE. 



This w.is prol)^l)ly built by the ancestor of the Otis family 
about ItiSO. For more than 100 years it was used as a tavern 
and post-office. It stands on Front Street. 



CHIPMAN HOUSE, X. BEVEKLY. 

This house w:is built by, or for, the Rev. Johu Chipmaii 
in 171"). He was minister here for (if) years, and the house is 
still ill the possession of his descendants. 



^ 4 




Alii. 






hAl, . -n f t c. 






'ff. 




rnrr — ^ — rr"' -f-fn-f" 



BARKER HOUSP:, PEMBROKE. 

Tlii.s house, or a jjortion of it, is lielieved to be the oldest 
now standing in New England. 

Ill 1(J2S Josiah Barker, accompanied hy Fred Davis, a 
colored man, started from I'lymoutli in a ship-boat and fol- 
lowed the shore until they reached the mouth of North River. 
This they ascended until they found a place suitable for build- 
ing, and here they soon after commenced the oldest portion of 
this house. It has never been out of the possession of the 
Barker family, but I understand it has recently (1892) been 
abandoned, in which case it will soon be among the things that 
were. 



THE CLARK HOUSE. MEDFIELD. 

When Meddeld was burnt by the Indians, in the Kinjj 
Philip war, it has been generally supposed that this house alone 
escaped ; but this is probably a mistake. This is a very old 
and peculiar house, l)iiilt al)out 1680 on the spot where a sim- 
ilar one stood, and removed to its present location in 173.'). 




i^]iik Houvcfisyiirr 



^ifijEt Sy^.jyAHiRtid IS7^ 



FLpyrCHER HOUSE, BILLERICA. 

This is supposed to he tiie oldest of the Fletcher houses, 
having been erected about 16')t). There cannot be much 
doubt about its age, as the wide clapboards and other signs of 
antiquity are very apparent. 







m 


r 


m 


^^^HH|,-' ^ V.*' -^8 


■ -rr-Ti 


■PH^P 




^m 


trdl 


Hkyi 




^^P 


^iir~— ~~~'fli 




■|t>'4^^'>,im2' X 




i^^ 


'Mh-r-^ 


KpSgiaJp 




■»»;. 








^1 




"Pl.t-.'i- 


I )■<•. U5' 


n.UTIf;! 


■. ,^J,/-5,..- ,.,. ... r.,„„jM /I19* 



CONANT HOUSE, BEVERLY. 



It has been claimed that the first native male child of the 
Mass. Bay Colony was born in this house. His father, Roger 
Conant, came to Salem in lfi27. 

Others say that this house was built by a son of Roger 
('onant ; and this I think much the more probable story. At 
all events it is a very old house, and was undoubtedly built by 
a ('onant. 




C^n mn f Mo t^s«, £^V£r{y. 



THE HOUSE WHERE REV. GEO. WHITEFIELD 
DIED, NEWBURYPORT. 

In this house, l)uilt by Jiio. F. Carr about 1740, the Rev. 
Geo Whitefield died Sep. 'Mhh. 1770. He was a native of 
England, having been liorn in Gloucester, 1714, and i)ecame 
one of the most e.xtraordinary preachers that ever lived. 

The author of this book is a descendant of the preacher's 
uncle. 

This picture represents the house in its original condition, 
several changes having been made in it since. 

He was buri.'^d in the church on the corner of the street, 
where the remains are still to be seen. 






JOi-' -fStr^Mi^- 







Rev. 6V(,f<j» W^i^:»^l>>'^^. diei fww.NwJi'uryp " ' . if«iwW /»l 



THE WOOD HOUSE, NEW BEDFORD. 

This was a very old and unique house, the history of which 
is unreliable. It was taken down in 1?<80. 




" ^"^- ' _ _ ,_, 

TKe'^Wooa House, Ai«.^<y/r,^. at^..f'-t iy s.-miM:'i'f'f^3. 



RUMFOKD FIOUSE, WOBURN. 

In this house tlie celebrated Count Kumford (Benjamin 
Thomi)son) was born. It was probably built by his grand- 
father about 1720. It is now used as a historical Museum. 



THE STANDISH HOUSE, DUXBURY. 

This house is believed to have been l)uilt by Alexander, 
son of Capt. Standish about Ififiti. The Captain's house stood 
about half a mile distant. It was burnt down, and no vestige 
of it remains except the cellar. 



SHOT TOWER, SOMERVILLE. 



This was erected for a mill and was probably built by 
John Mallet about 17ti4. The walls of this building are of 
stone 2 feet thick, with an inner lining of brick. It is about 
3<t feet high with a diameter of fifteen feet at the base. 

It stands in a commanding position in the City of Somer- 
ville. 




^^,yr../: ^yim:;zZi ,,^^. TJ^'IX^ 



'^. -i*.« S0FU )d 



01/i S,h.et Tewr.^ 




THE SALTONSTALL HOUSE, IPSWICH. 



This was huilt by Richard, son of Sir Rich'd Saltonstiiil 
about l()3o, and is a very inleresting old building, both exter- 
nally and internally. The lower part is filled in with l)rick and 
stone, and is bullet-proof. The first Courts held in Ipswich 
were in this house. 

It is commonly known as the Bond House. 




«yt»£>'r. >y t //ir^/iii' 






iV ziwt'-'-^' ^^' 



THE COFFIN HOUSE, NEWBURY. 

This was probably built by Tristatn ("offin about KJod, 
before he removed to Salisbury in 1654. It is most likely that 
the front portion was erected much later. It stands on High 
St. very near the Old Town church. 



^5=- ■.?U>vk/ r 'f 



'3S£iii. 










Cifiy^S'" -J- 



THE BARNARD HOUSE. AMESBURY. 

This was })robably built by Sam. Barnard, 173fi. It is in 
a good state of preservation, and has been recently (lainted. 



.3 r-STlSF JIT- H' Itt !|v 



I ^pi\!^i^- 







ijK*^, 



"FimsrcL Aouit, AmSTBuiy 



STONE BRIDGE. IPSWICH. 

This is claimed to he tlie first aUme bridge Imilt in New 
Engliind. It is a very siil)staiitial structure of two arches cross- 
iuir the Ipswich River, ami was erected in 17(J4. y 



THE HOVEY HOUSE. 

Dan. Hovey, who built this house, was among the first 
Ip-jwich settlers. He mirrieJ Abigal .\udre\vs ia 16.37, and 
he had a family of six sons and one daughter. 

In lt>6H he had lii)erty to build his house, the one repre- 
sented in this picture. He no doul)t lived in a log house 
previous to this. 








■f^^^- „/ : ''iVi\ 



" Tt- "Hov'j &o.'. itTIps-™ ;<•!,. . M 






THE COBB OK ALLERTON HOUSE, KINGSTON. 

This house, or rather a portion of it, is supposed to have 
heeu built by Isaac Allerton, about 1()4U. It was afterwards 
owned by Ebenezer Cobb, who died here in 1801, aged 107 
years and 8 months. It stands in the eastern part of the town 
near the road leading to Plymouth. 

The monument in the distance is the one recently erected 
to Capt. Stand ish. 







-;:-«J**^ 







7:^^ 



THE OSGOOD HOUSE. SALISHURV. 

This Wiis built by the ancestor of the Osgood family about 
l<I4l!, and is still in possession of his descendants. In the early 
days it was used as a Garrison House. From the upper win- 
dow in the gable it is said that a woman shot an Indian. The 
front door is undoubtedly modern. 




The C535e<)- ^ 



^^^^ 







WHITE OK ELLEHV HOUSE, GLOUCESTER. 

This was built In the Rev. John White 17(13, and for 
some years at'ter his death, was used as a Town House. It is 
very strongly l)uilt, and the chimney is of immense size. It 
stands on Washington Street, about a mile from the R. R. sta- 
tion. The balls shown in the front of the house have been 
removed. 



rt !*2iSIU>!l«*/K£wfl>?i'.di-SJh>l*iI>--SS>*;.:->'. L A'. 



:,!i)t<lUJ;if.-Vr5T|?l*'^r--'Wf-.i 




WV n. or illpry 3io *»c Gtoiu-fsttr < -i^^/y^ *j <'f/i,liff/</ /S-~. 



LYNDE HOUSE, MELROSE. 

This house is supposed to have been built about 16^0, 
about the time of the King Philip War. It stands in the south- 
western part of the town, near Washington Street, and is a 
very interesting old building. 



THK BURTON HOUSE. PLYMOUTH. 



This i.s a very old house Itut the tlate is uncertain, said to 
have been built by Wm. Harlow. The frame of the old fort 
i.s in this house The diamond paned windows have been re- 
moved. 



www^ 




Th, Burro., "H 



THE CUTLER HOUSE, WOBUKN. 

This house was built about 1690 ; but its early history is 
involved in doubt. In 17.')9 it was owned by Benj. Simmonds ; 
and here the Episcopal Society held their services for some 
time. It is the only house in Mass. in which a genuine dia- 
mond-paned window is still to be seen. It belongs to Jesse 
Cutler. 




T^ue Cut]er Ho 



Webi^n.. G^y^.fJ-tfy^yK^f"--''^ '^9 



TUCKER HOUSE, MARBLEHEAD. 

This is a very old house on Front Street, and, if built as 
early as 1644, must be the oldest in Marblehead. I could find 
out nothing else of special interest about it, except the fact of 
its great age. 



THE BRADFORD HOUSE, PLYMOUTH. 

This house once stood on Town Square, and it is believed 
that Gov. Bradford lived in it, but whether he l)uilt it is un- 
certain. Like the other dwellings of the Pilgrims it has long 
since been swept away by the ruthless hand of Improvement. 




B^Js.-j'r1i<."Vi.*T'rymo'..f»i . '* 'a^^r.oi,i iy /.. kv;, -.r;./<..' Ti<nt' 









LIBRARY OP CONGRESS 



